The Ultimate Guide to Smartphone Apathy: Why I’m Sticking with My Old iPhone

Peter Kostadinov, the renowned Phone Arena smartphone reviewer, has an interesting story to share. Despite having access to the latest models and financial means, he chose to stick with his old iPhone for three years.

Unfazed by the annual upgrade cycle and immune to the allure of new releases, Kostadinov had his reasons for holding on to his outdated device. Here’s his story.

Resisting the New

It’s been almost three years since Apple unveiled what I consider to be their best iPhone to date—the iPhone 13 Pro Max. While it may not be ancient, it’s certainly showing its age and slowing down.

This phone has been my daily driver since its release in September 2021. I’ve never felt the need to upgrade or switch to another phone, be it an iPhone or an Android device. The iPhone 13 Pro Max still meets all my needs and more.

Of course, there are newer and shinier iPhones out there. But my reason for not upgrading is simple: none of the new features on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or even the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max seem important to me.

At first glance, each new generation introduces exciting new features that would undoubtedly be great additions to any iPhone. However, this is only true if you’re upgrading from a much older model. The iPhone 13 Pro Max isn’t far behind the recent releases.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a high-resolution 48MP main camera and the new Dynamic Island notch, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a significant upgrade with its titanium design, 5X telephoto camera, USB-C port, and super-fast 3nm chip.

In theory, all these features are fantastic. However, after briefly testing both the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max upon their release, I still didn’t feel the need to own them.

Three Years with the iPhone 13 Pro Max

Apple’s 2021 flagship hasn’t become outdated for me, even after three years. Of course, individual experiences may vary, but I’m confident I can use this phone for a few more years.

One of the main reasons I chose the iPhone 13 Pro Max was its battery life. At the time, it offered not just the best battery life among iPhones but also among all smartphones on the market. This phone could last up to two days on a single charge, with up to 10 hours of screen-on time.

Even though the battery has degraded to 87% capacity after nearly 500 charge cycles, my phone still lasts a respectable 6-7 hours a day.

Another reason for my choice was the 120Hz ProMotion display. I consider a 120Hz refresh rate to be a must-have for any modern smartphone (it’s embarrassing that Apple still sells 60Hz phones in 2024). This may not seem like an issue for those used to 60Hz screens, but once you go 120Hz, it’s hard to go back because everything else feels choppy and less smooth.

However, overheating has been a significant issue with the iPhone 13 Pro Max, especially during the hot European summers, when you’re outdoors or using it for navigation in the car. Even basic tasks cause the phone to heat up, leading to reduced performance and brightness. That’s not something I enjoy.

Performance Remains Solid

The iPhone 13 Pro Max still performs admirably in 2024. As I don’t play graphics-intensive games or use heavy applications, I’ve never felt that the phone lacked performance. To be honest, I’ve never even thought about performance while using this device, which speaks to its power.

Despite having only a 12MP camera and lacking a 5X telephoto zoom, the camera on the iPhone 13 Pro Max has served me perfectly fine. Looking through my photo gallery, I’d say less than 10% of the photos were taken with anything other than the standard wide-angle lens.

However, a telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom would have been nice for portrait shots.

There’s a famous saying: “You get used to it over time!” While I often find this to be true in most cases, the size of the iPhone 13 Pro Max hasn’t gotten any easier for me to handle.

The longer I use this phone, the more I realize its size is a nuisance. Initially, I overlooked its large dimensions, but after three years, the size has become my number one complaint. It may sound strange, but I find myself longing for the slightly smaller iPhones that are easier to use with one hand.

What’s Worth Upgrading For?

The only smartphone feature that truly excites me is battery life. While we’ve come a long way, I’m optimistic that we’ll see even better battery life in the near future.

Another reason to upgrade is USB-C. While I’m used to the Lightning port, the idea of carrying a single cable that works with all my tech gadgets, regardless of brand or ecosystem, is appealing. Slow charging isn’t an issue for me.

Even Apple’s upcoming Intelligence feature isn’t a compelling enough reason for me to upgrade. After testing most of the iOS 18 beta features, I’m not convinced it’s a must-have for everyone.